Dry and scaly skin is an unsightly problem that can occur anywhere on the body. Note that you may develop this particular issue even if your skin type is oily or normal, as this particular problem is caused by a variety of conditions that have nothing to do with your general sebum production rate.
Dry skin around the mouth is especially troublesome, because it looks very unattractive and you can’t mask it with makeup. Therefore, today we will offer you some tips on how to get rid of this problem and restore your natural beauty.
Dry Skin Around the Mouth: Common Causes
Treatments for this condition differ depending on the cause of the problem. If you cannot determine the reason behind the issue yourself, it’s best to consult a dermatologist as severe cases caused by inflammations or infections require prescription drugs.
The most common causes of dry skin around the mouth are:
- Climate
changes and lip licking.
These reasons can be easily dealt with. Climate changes (cold winds or extreme dryness) can be countered by adjusting your skincare routine and using an emollient moisturizer. If you have a habit of lip licking, the unappealing look of dry skin around your mouth is a great motivator to break out of it. In some cases, you may develop this condition while drooling, for example when you sleep. This issue doesn’t require any specialized treatment and will go away on its own, eventually.
- Medications.
Some types of oral and topical medications can cause this kind of reaction. If the dryness and scaling occurred after you started using any new type of meds, tell your doctor, see if you can stop using it to determine whether the problem is solved. Note that this is a gradual process, so you may need to wait for up to two weeks to see the results.
- Perioral
dermatitis.
No one knows why exactly this condition occurs, though some studies indicate that in some cases, it can be caused by using fluoride toothpaste and overindulging in cortisone creams. Perioral dermatitis looks a lot like acne, but doesn’t react to anti-acne products. The bumps caused by the condition can get inflamed and filled with pus. You will require a consultation with a dermatologist as this problem must be dealt with by using specialized creams and taking antibiotics.
- Seborrheic
dermatitis.
This condition usually affects people with oily skin as it’s caused by overproduction of sebum combined with a yeast infection. This yeast occurs naturally on the skin, so this problem isn’t caused by poor hygiene. However, lack of personal hygiene is a risk factor that increases a person’s chances to develop seborrheic dermatitis. If the dry skin around the mouth is caused by this condition, the area closer to the nose will be more affected.
- Contact
dermatitis.
Usually, this condition is caused by an allergic reaction (irritation) to some element, for example, fragrance, menthol, citrus, alcohol, etc. If this is the reason in your particular case, you should stop using the product and your skin will return to norm in a few days.
Dry Skin around the Mouth: General Treatment Tips
If this is the first time you developed this problem, and there are no indications of severe dermatitis (bumps, inflammation, etc.) you don’t have to go to a dermatologist right away. Try the following treatments to see whether you can solve this problem on your own:
- Stop
using potentially irritating products.
If you’ve recently started using a new cream, lipstick, toothpaste, or mouthwash, stop using itimmediately. In case you didn’t make any changes in your routine, exclude all these products for a few days and switch to a fluoride-free toothpaste. Monitor your condition carefully and start using the products one by one to determine which causes the problem.
- Use
a good moisturizer.
Regardless of the cause behind the dryness, it’s essential to use a great moisturizer. For example, PureLx Perfection Anti-Aging Cream is a great choice.
- Switch
to heavy-duty hydration in severe cases.
If your skin gets so dry it starts cracking, start applying a petrolatum-based product free of fragrance, alcohol, and other irritants.
If none of the aforementioned treatments helps and the condition persists, consult your doctor.
